NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2729, 6 May 1924, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

“I have had the wind up all the time I have been in the North Island,” remarked an Invercargill farmer to a reporter. “Man,” lie added “these North Island motorists are the devil to drive and I have been afraid of a crash at every cornel we came to.” “Every project of reform has to pass through four stages. The first stage is that of ‘Pooh, pooh!' The second —when vested interests begin to be attacked—ris ‘No. no!' The third as the coropate ideal begins to gleam before the common eye, is ‘Well, well!’ And the fourth mid final stage is that of ‘Yes., yes!’—to which most people add that they thought so all tile time."— A Scottish paper.

“The healthiest children in the Dominions’ and those with the rosiest cheeks resembling Kentish children are found in tiie south island of New Zealand, on Vancouver Island, and on the Canadian Pacific Coast,” said General lan Hamilton in opening the British Legion Club at Penge. “These are the places to which married couples should emigrate because perfect health and energy nre worth more than rubies. I might be regarded as the great authority on emigration, as 1 have visited every hole and corner of Overseas Forces.”

llow cargo pillagers work is more or less a secret known only to the select few —or many—who do it, to those who have their confidence', and to some detectives and ships’ officers. The need to sell their spoils, however, occasionally lets other persons into the know. The Taranaki Herald is in a position to state that, with the growth of overseas shipping, New Plymouth is able to share in the disposal of stolen eargo at bargain rates —as well as to receive consignments of merchandise which have been tampered with. The late Duke of Edinburgh, uncle of King George, planted a numbei of trees in New Zealand on the occasion of his visit to this country over half a century ago. One of these was a young kauri, planted in the Auckland Government House grounds. The Duke planted two or three in Wellington, one being an oak, which he placed in the Basin Reserve. This tree is now threat-

oned with extinction as il stands in the way of the new pavilion on which work has been commenced. The Mayor of Wellinglnn. Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., has been asked by those interested in the history op the tree to ascertain whether it is possible to save it by transplant ing.

Professor Gordon, the geologist of London University, has been talking about pearls and the strange part they have played in legend and history. He said there were two pearls Cleopatra wore in her earrings one of which she is said to have dissolved in vinegar and drunk at a banquet she gave to Marie Antony. The other pearl had a strange career. It came into possession of a Roman Emperor who fried to sell if, tint apparently there was no one among his subjects rich enough to buy it. Tie. therefore, bad the pearl sliced in halves, which were used to make earrings for the statue of Venus in the Temple of Venus in Rome. Eight hundred people have paid toll at the North Egmonf mountain gate during April, and the hulk of this number visited the mountain during Easter, when the number of those who spent the holiday on Egmonl’s slopes was a record (savs the Hawera “Star”) The beautiful weather that lias been experienced this summer lias made, the mountain a favourite resort, and this season previous to April 5000 people had visited the North Egniont houses. With very little snow on the peak many ascents were made during the recent holiday. Tl is difficult to ascertain the exact number' who climbed, but certainly nearly Ifift persons stood on the mountain top at some time or other during Easter, and even a greater number than this had set «>nl with that intention.

That the present system of compulsory military training was having n very detrimental effect on the interest in rifle shooting was a general opinion expressed at the meeting of the Taranaki Rifle Association ;it New Plymouth. When a young man was discharged from (lie. Territorial forces he had no liking for any matters relating to it, and it was urged that steps should be taken to secure the interest of Territorial reservists in rille shooting. “The average Territorial reservists have no interest in rifle shooting,” stated the annual report. “This is quite in contrast to the volunteers of the volunteer period, of whom il large percentage were enthusiastic riflemen.”

A remarkable fatal accident occurred to a child of 10 months, as related at an inquest at Hull. England. Deceased, the daughter of an unemployed boiler-maker, was put to bed with another child, aged 2. The parents then went out, requesting a neighbour to “give an eye to the children.” On returning two hours later they were horrified to find, the tragedy. Deceased’s night dress was paraeliule-like over her head, the garment being attached to the bed foot and held round her neck by a piece of tape fastened to an undervest. The other child was asleep. At the inquest the father expres-ed the opinion that the baby bad been going to the foot of the bed to lie near her sister and was moving along with the aid of the foot of the bedstead when she overbalanced and toppled over the rail. Had her nightdress not caught on the broken bedstead .-.lie would have fallen to the ground nfl might have been no worse. The coroner commented tlmt the ease was the most remarkable one be had to deal with during his 30 years’ experience. He agreed with the father’s theory, and thought there could be no possible reflection upon the parents nor upon the neighbour. To think of suicide by ~ child so young was impossible. Rntana’s party of Maoris, which left Auckland for Sydney last week are on route for England, where it is intended to give n number of native entertainments. Rntana’s secretary, Mr Peter Mokn cannot say definitely whether Rat aim intends to conduct a healing mission in England, but it is significant that he is taking with him many documents and exhibits which are said to substantiate his claim of healing power. The whole party comprises a|,ou! 40 Maoris, including 12 young women poi dancers and 12 young men, mostly returned soldiers, who will give liaka and war dance .exhibitions. The young people have also formed a very creditable jazz band, of which drums, flutes, banjos and the doleful saxophone are the chief components. The party takes abroard with it a wonderful collection of 150 mats, in which kiwi, native pigeon, tui. kawa, and weka feathers are beautifully combined. Some of the maidens boast the pos session of the very rare huia feathers to adorn their hair.